RACE cars zooming past each other in the track or racing bikes speeding to the finish line are something we see with regularity in Cebu.
What we don’t often see or actually haven’t seen yet in Cebu are sleek vintage sports cars being showcased in a race.
A one-of-a-kind event is set to unfold as some of the country’s prominent personalities and their prized vintage cars take centerstage for the 1st Tour De Cebu: 1,000 Kilometers Historic Rally Across the Visayas scheduled on Dec. 5 to 7.
Joining the event are members of the Performance and Classics Enthusiasts (Pace) and the Manila Sports Car Club (MSCC), who will drive from Cebu City all the way to Bacolod for a three-day, two-night touristic rally.
Although the event is essentially a race, the goal is not about reaching the finish line first as participants will have to complete each stage to be completed in a pre-determined time. The car with the lowest penalty score will be declared winner.
The event is patterned after Mille Miglia in Italy, a race covering 1,000 miles from Brescia to Rome and back. The race is open to historic and post-historic sports cars made not later than Dec. 31, 1979.
Fun and challenging
Flag-off will be at the I.T. Park in barangay Apas, Cebu City. Participants will then drive to Dumaguete City for an overnight stay. The next day, participants will head to Bacolod City for another overnight stay.
On Dec. 7, participants will drive back to Cebu, passing through the towns of Toledo, Tuburan, San Remigio and Sogod before heading south to Cebu City.
“It will be fun, but it will also be difficult. You will be driving cars built several years ago whose brakes sometimes work and sometimes don’t. No aircon, no stereo. It will be very challenging,” said world-renowned furniture designer Kenneth Cobonpue, who was joined by fellow Pace members in the event’s press launching last Thursday at the Irie Gastropubliko.
Other Pace members set to join the event are Danao City Vice Mayor Red Durano, who is also the group’s president, Jay Aldeguer, Glenn Soco, Chris Tio, Jun-Jun So, Tony Lozada, Michael Lhuillier, Grand Benedicto, Dr. Yong Larrazabal III, Chris Aldeguer, Darren Deen, Luis Alvarez, Harley Yunam, Michael Jo, Harold Ong Badilles, Louie Uymasuy, Dr. Peter Mancao and Erwin Miranda. Actor Dominic Ochoa, who owns a 1969 MGB GT, will also compete.
Annual event
Organizer Sophie delos Santos of Tradeshow International said the event will have at least 25 participants coming from Pace and MSCC.
“The driver and the navigator will have to work closely to deal with the challenges in the road book,” said Delos Santos. Pace is hoping that the event would eventually become an annual affair.
“This was inspired by our love of driving. If handled properly, it has a potential to become an international event. We hope this becomes an institution,” said Jay Aldeguer.
The event is also for a noble cause as part of the proceeds generated from registration fees and sponsorships will go to the Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation (Eruf).
Cars that will join include a 1955 Porsche 550 Spyder, 1956 MGA, 1961 and 1963 Jaguar XKE, 1963 Kougar, 1964 Karmann Ghia, 1962 Porsche 356B, 1965 Shelby Cobra, 1966 and 1968 Corvette Stingray, 1966 MGB, 1967 Porsche 912, 1967 Alfa Romeo Duetto, 1968 Mercedes Benz 280 SL, 1971 and 1972 Porsche 911 and Morgan 3-wheelers.
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